Must be the money
When I received an email with a link to the Paul Buentello interview in which he announces that he is a "free agent" and has left the UFC, the emailer comented, "It's times like these where I just wonder where UFC's head is at." Well, lets see what we can figure out.
Maybe the UFC did no re-sign Buentello because Arlovski knocked him out. But, it's hard to think that is the reason he is not going to be re-signed. After all, he beat Gilbert Aldana after the Arlovski fight and is a very respectable 3-1 in the UFC.
Maybe the UFC did not re-sign Buentello because he does not have the most impressive physique in the world and does not project the image they want. But, then again, he's looked the same since the UFC signed him.
Well, what else could it be . . . maybe the interview can give us a clue:
With all the cheap TUF talent available to fill out the UFC's cards, it looks like they do not see any reason to pay the money necessary to keep Buentello.
I do not know how much Buentello was offered by other promotions, but unless it was something ridiculous, this looks like a mistake. With the number of shows the UFC is running and its weak heavyweight division, the UFC can use every legitimate heavyweight it can get. (Anyone smell an Arlovski-Sylvia IV coming?)
It is easy to see this as a money deal, but it is a lot harder to figure out how the UFC improved itself by sending Buentello to fight for its competition.
del.icio.us tags: paul, buentello, ufc, mma, whaledog
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Maybe the UFC did no re-sign Buentello because Arlovski knocked him out. But, it's hard to think that is the reason he is not going to be re-signed. After all, he beat Gilbert Aldana after the Arlovski fight and is a very respectable 3-1 in the UFC.
Maybe the UFC did not re-sign Buentello because he does not have the most impressive physique in the world and does not project the image they want. But, then again, he's looked the same since the UFC signed him.
Well, what else could it be . . . maybe the interview can give us a clue:
2. What's going on with you and the UFC?As the great Deion Sanders once said, "Must be the money."
They have a right to match any offer I get. I called them myself to see what the deal was. I wanted to hear it with my own ears instead of what my manager told me. I told them what I needed and they said they couldn't do that. AS[sic] of today I am a Free Agent.
3. So was it not a good offer?
I think it was but the offers I got were alot[sic] and I mean alot[sic] better offers. I wanted to stay in the UFC and I would have taken the money they were offering if they would have picked up one of my sponsors.
4. What do you mean pick up one of your sponosrs [sic]?
When I was first fighting in the UFC I had a few good sponsors that helped with my monthly bills. When the UFC got strict on the whole sponor[sic] thing last year it made it hard for me to pay bills in between fights.
With all the cheap TUF talent available to fill out the UFC's cards, it looks like they do not see any reason to pay the money necessary to keep Buentello.
I do not know how much Buentello was offered by other promotions, but unless it was something ridiculous, this looks like a mistake. With the number of shows the UFC is running and its weak heavyweight division, the UFC can use every legitimate heavyweight it can get. (Anyone smell an Arlovski-Sylvia IV coming?)
It is easy to see this as a money deal, but it is a lot harder to figure out how the UFC improved itself by sending Buentello to fight for its competition.
del.icio.us tags: paul, buentello, ufc, mma, whaledog
